Electric heater



F. KUHN AND J. A. HAND.

ELECTRIC HEATER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY3|.19.18,

1,388,270. Patented Aug. 22, 1 921.

- 7 31mm 4 [7222914 Jfvim rl vflmhanai UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK KUHN AND JAY A. HAND,'0F DETROIT, MICHIGJiN, ASSIGNORS TO AMERICAN ELECTRICAL HEATER COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

ELEcrEIc HEATER.

Patented Aug. 23, 1921.

Original application filed February 21, 1918, Serial No. 218,402. Divided and this application filed May 81, 1918. Serial No. 237,423.

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Heaters, of which the following is a specification, reference being bad therein to 'the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to electric heaters and more particularly to electric cookers of that tyne designed for use with chafing dishes, for toasting, broiling, etc. This application is a division of our prior application Serial No. 218,402, filed February 21, 1918, for an electric cooker.

It is necessary in the manufacture of heaters to provide'units of different resistances and to correspond to the different voltages of the electric service in different places. As it is also necessary to mark the voltage on the heater in an exposed place where it can be easily read, it is customary to place this marking on the outer casing or frame, which necessitates the carrying in stock of a large number of these frames which are mechanically of the same construction but are differently marked. We have avoided this difficulty by placing the marking plate upon the detachable heating unit and exposing the markings to view through a window in theframe. Other objects of the invention reside in the novel arrangements and combinations of parts as more fully hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the casing with the heating unit removed;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the heating unit detached;

Fig, 3 is a cross-section through a portion of the casing with the heating unit in place.

A is a base, preferably formed of pressed sheet metal, having a flat ton and dependin side fian e and which as shown is of polygonal form. B is an annulus which is supported above the base A by side members C. The latter are preferably formed of pressed sheet metal and are slotted transversely to form racks for holding utensils below the ring. As specifically shown, the members C are provided with a series of slots D leaving uncut marginal portions at opposite sides and these side portions are crimped at E to form entrance grooves into the slots. There are also provided handles F which are attached to the members C by shank portions G struck out therefrom.

The heating unit H is of a form to fit within the annulus B and to avoid overheating the connector, the terminals of the unit are extended downward to a point adacent to the base. To support these terminals a sheet metal member I is secured at its upper end to the periphery of the unit and is extended downward therefrom,

terminating in an outwardly-extending flange I. On the downwardlyextending portion is mounted an insulator block J, and secured upon this block are terminal bars K which extend upward and inward through slots K in the member I. The lower ends of said terminal bars have attached thereto the outwardlyprojeating contact pins K for engaging with the plug of the connector. The terminal connections just described are housed and protected by a casing L which is secured to the annulus i3 and extends downward adjacent to the base, liieing fashioned to form in connection with the flange 1 an outwardly-opening socket for receiving the plug. The construction is such that the heating unit may be engaged with or disengaged from the casing by sliding it beneath the annulus B, inserting the member I into thehousing L and then raising the unit into engagement with said annulus, where it is held from disengagement by securing means M.

The housing L has the window L formed therein and the marking plate J is mounted upon the insulator block J where it serves in addition to its function of a marking plate as a clamping plate for the terminal bars K. The plate is secured by screws J and an insulator linine J of mica or other suitable material is placed between the plate and the conductors. 7

With the construction as described the heating units. the specific construction of which forms no part of the present invention, may be formed of various resistances but mechanically of the same structure. Each unit is properly marked upon the plate J and the units are exchangeably engageable with the stand or frame member. Thus in assembling a heater for any sliding' the terminals into the housing L and the unit proper into the annulus B,

securing it by the pins M. hen thus assembled, the voltage and other markings required are prominently displayed through the window L so as to identity the heater, It is also possible to quickly exchange the units when desired, so that it is only necessary to carry a limited number in stock.

What we claim as our invention, is:

1. In an electric heater, the combination with frame, of a heating unit detachahly engageable with said frame, terminals for said unit projecting therefrom, a housing, for said terminals secured to said frame, a marking plate for said unit secured to the terminal portion thereof, and a window in said housing through which the markings on said plate are displayed when said heating;- unit is in engagement with said frame.

2. In an electric heater, the combination with a base, oi an annulus supported thereabove, a, heating unit detachably engageable with said annulus, terminals on said unit extending downward and outward therefrom, a marking plate for aid unit secured to the terminal portion thereof, and a housing for said terminals having; a window therein for lisplayinp; the markings on said marking plate when said heating unit in engagement with said annulus.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures.

FRANK KUI-IN. JAY A. HAND. 

